India’s Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan addressed the 57th graduating class of IIMC in New Delhi on Friday, blending congratulations with a clarion call for principled journalism. Over six decades, IIMC has molded media luminaries who have enriched India’s democratic ethos and societal discourse.
Hailing the institute’s deemed university elevation in January 2024, he foresaw its sustained leadership in mass communication. The on-campus incubation centers for media startups earned special applause, reflecting proactive adaptation to sectoral innovations.
He dissected media’s metamorphosis: AI, analytics, immersive storytelling, and social channels have redefined content dynamics. The AVGC sector’s ascent in animation, effects, gaming, and comics fuels a vibrant creator economy. PM Modi’s government has launched the National AVGC-XR Mission and excellence hubs to propel talent globally. Opportunities at Sansad TV beckoned interested students.
Evoking the pen’s potency, Radhakrishnan implored truth-based narratives to lead the nation. ‘Fearlessly document reality for a developed India,’ he charged the graduates. Integrity over sensationalism, he stressed, invoking veteran A.N. Shivraman’s legacy of impactful, aware journalism that nurtures leaders.
Digital pitfalls loomed large: social media amplifies but also disseminates misinformation, breeding division. Words impact, visuals mold views, stories shift mindsets. Through Operation Sindoor’s lens, he portrayed parallel defenses—physical and virtual—against threats. Media must catalyze positivity, fortifying armed forces’ resolve.
India’s economic ascent, digital proliferation, and international clout demand media’s bridging role for enlightened citizenship. He pressed for balanced reporting that celebrates progress and innovation alongside trials. Advertising and PR aspirants were counseled to wield creativity with purpose and ethics.
In summation, amid tech’s march, accuracy, fairness, and responsibility stand immutable. ‘Anchor truth within; defeat is impossible,’ he motivated, trusting the cohort to advance a conscious, robust, progressed India.